Prologue

Paul Femrite was going crazy. He looked everywhere but couldn't find a bottle of beer anywhere in the house. At nineteen years old, Paul was already an alcoholic. It ran in his family. No one knew he was drinking though. He had to hide it from everyone. Not only because of the family alcoholism, but because he wasn't old enough to drink any alcohol at all.

His hidden stash had run out which made him desperate. The problem was that he was stuck in the house watching his two year old sister Cherie.

Cherie was a cute little thing, always dressed in colorful outfits. Cherie owned more dresses than the average two year old. She had three brothers (Paul was the oldest) and when Paul's mother, Lea finally had a girl she over indulged on the girlish things: dresses, dolls, pink walls and furniture in her room. Lea even sub-consciously limited Cherie's exposure to Cinderella since she wore a blue dress and Lea had had enough of blue things. Everybody loved Cherie.

After a while, Paul decided he couldn't take it anymore. He had to go out and get something to drink. He couldn't leave Cherie alone of course, so he would take her with him.

"Come-on sweetie, we're going to go for a ride," Paul told her.

"OK, let me get Brabra," Cherie replied referring to her stuffed zebra which she called Brabra since when she got him she couldn't pronounce zebra.

They looked around for Brabra but she was no where to be found. Cherie was always leaving her somewhere and then forgetting where she was. Soon Paul had enough. "Maybe she is in the car?" Paul suggested.

He took the car seat out of the garage and took it with him to the

car. But Brabra wasn't there as he knew. When he got Cherie into the car, he made her sit in the car seat. She fussed so much he didn't fasten her in properly.

The drive to pick up beer was uneventful. But the drive back, once he had a beer in his hand was tragic. Paul lost control while driving and veered into oncoming traffic. There was a head-on collision.. Cherie's car seat was thrown around the car and landed on the floor. Paul hit his head during the crash knocking him unconscious.

Chapter 1.

Lea and her husband Randy were at the hospital immediately after hearing about the accident. It took some time to locate them, but as soon as they heard, they were there as soon as possible. They were told that it was very serious and that both their children were in surgery. They had to perform the operation without consent as it was an emergency situation. All that could be done was being done and that the doctor would let them know what happened as soon as the surgery was over.

The Femrite's paced nervously hoping for the best.

"What was he doing in the car with her? He was just supposed to watch her?" Lea asked rhetorically.

"I don't know? We may never know," Randy told her. He wanted to comfort his wife, but he was in just as much shock as she was. They could lose both their children at once.

The police told them what they knew and that alcohol was involved in the accident.

After many hours of waiting, the doctor finally came out and talked to the Femrite's.

"Well how are they?" Lea excitedly asked.

"It was very difficult, we tried very hard but only one survived," the doctor said trying to keep a professional demeanor.

"Which one?"

"I want to say that the one who is gone, gave their life for the one who lived."

"Which one?"

"Cherie."

"And what did you mean gave their life."

"Well when they arrived, both were in very bad shape. Paul has a very serious head injury and Cherie had multiple internal injuries. With her small body, she wasn't going to make it. But when we looked at Paul we found him brain dead. We couldn't reach you and we knew you would want to save at least one of them. So we put Cherie's brain inside Paul's body. It may look like Paul, but that is Cherie. We've had to induce a coma so her body can heal. But I think she'll come out of this in time. Then she'll have to grow up just like any other normal toddler."

Neither Lea nor Randy could believe what they were hearing. Paul is dead, but Cherie had his body. "You did what?" Lea finally exclaimed.

"I saved Cherie by transplanting her brain into Paul's body. Paul gave up his life for his little sister. In a way they are both still alive. But when you see her remember that is really Cherie."

"Can we see her?"

"Yes you can but she is in a coma. We think coma patients can hear what is going on. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU REFER TO HER AS CHERIE AND A SHE, despite she looking like Paul. You mustn't confuse her. This would be hard on anyone but especially a toddler." The doctor raised his voice for emphasis.

"OK, I want to see her now!"

"She's in recovery. Her head is heavily bandaged of course and she is in a coma. But I think she'll be fine."

Lea and Paul were led into the room. They saw their son lying on a bed. His head was as the doctor said heavily bandaged. He was bruised all over with several IVs connected to his arms. He wore a pink hospital gown and was covered to his chest in a white sheet.

Lea ran towards him. The doctor called again, "Remember that is Cherie, You mustn't confuse her, even while she is asleep."

Lea put Paul's hand in her own (the one which wasn't attached to the IV and started to talk to him. "Cherie mommy's here. You're going to be alright. I love you sweetie."

Randy looked at his son, but he knew it was really his daughter. He was conflicted as to how to treat him. He wanted to be strong for him like he was a man, but also gentle because he knew he was still a little girl. Randy forced himself to do as the doctor said and call Paul his 'Little Princess.'

After a few minutes, the doctor ushered them out of the room. "She needs her rest. Besides I wanted to talk to you. It'll be a long road to recovery. I don't think there is any real brain damage, but despite how she looks, she is still two. She isn't out of diapers yet, is she?"

"No."

"Well she'll still have to learn her ABCs and everything else, she may look nineteen, but she is two. Her new body will be confusing for her, but we have one thing in our favor."

"What is that?"

"That she is two, she doesn't know that she can't just wake up as someone else. Children like to pretend. But for this not to be a shock to her, you have to treat her in all ways as you always have. You can't start calling her 'he'. You can't call her 'Paul'. You have to firmly entrench her in her old life in every way. It would be best if you over exaggerate that she is a girl and a toddler."

"What do you mean?'

"Obviously she's going to be in diapers, but make sure they look like girl's diapers. You should keep her in dresses and pretty girlie things, avoid plain t-shirts or pants. Stay away from even the unisex items if you can. She has to be convinced she is still Cherie or the confusion will be detrimental."

"I see."

"Also she is a toddler, don't expect her to be reading in a couple weeks and then doing everything that a teenager would do. She is hardly more than a baby, even if she says she is not. Treat her like one. You must be strict. I know it might be hard. But you have to remember she is a little girl. The clothing will help remind you. But you mustn't forget."

"We'll do our best."

"Finally, are there some things from home that she really likes? I want you to bring them here. The more normal we can make this the better it'll be for her."

"Well there is her favorite stuffed zebra."